Ola to add 10000 EVs in next 12 months

Ola, Uber's main rival in India, said Monday that as a first step it's aiming to roll out a fleet of 10,000 electric rickshaws in several cities over the next 12 months.India's ubiquitous three-wheeled taxis are normally fueled by gas.

It is looking to work with driver-partners, cities, vehicle manufacturers, and battery companies to make sustainable technologies that are cost-effective and viable in daily mobility.

Ola, the leading ride-hailing startup, has announced plans to expand its electric vehicle offerings in the country.

If things go to plan, ride-hailing company Ola could emerge as one of the largest electric vehicle (EV) fleet operators in the world by next year. Electric rickshaws have already shown to be popular in India, with over 100,000 battery powered three wheelers being operated in Delhi. The company launched a trial EV program past year in the city of Nagpur, but has reportedly run into some recent road bumps.

The company said it plans to hit the 1 million vehicle target by 2021. The electric vehicle program in Nagpur has provided Ola with significant insights into effectively managing vehicles, batteries, and operations.

India wants to ensure that by 2030 all new vehicles will be electric, though it has failed to back up this ambition with any explicit policy or roadmap. The decision comes on the basis of successful execution of its first pilot EV project, which has seen over 200 electric cars, e-rickshaws and electric autos plying in the city of Nagpur since May 2017.

Around the same time, it was also reported that a number of Ola drivers wanted to return their vehicles due to long waiting times at charging stations and higher operating expenses.

Electric vehicle sales in India, one of the world's fastest-growing auto markets, made up less than 0.1 percent of annual sales of more than 3 million passenger cars.

Ola, which operates in 110 Indian cities and has over a million driver partners, said the electric three-wheelers will be introduced in three cities but did not name them.

One of the major setbacks for an EV mobility ecosystem is the unavailability of enough charging stations, and the new law will help to build a wider charging infrastructure, which will indirectly encourage the adoption of EVs in India.

Didi Chuxing, the dominant player in China, is offering electric vehicle sharingin partnership with 12 companies including Renault, Nissan and Kia.

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